I never intended to write a book. In fact, when the idea first surfaced, it felt more like something I should do than something I actually wanted to do. But as I began writing My New Heart Says, I realized this story needed to be told and that the process itself was going to be part of the healing. What started as a chore became unexpectedly cathartic, giving me a chance to reflect on my life, my heart transplant, the people who shaped me, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. In this episode of Heart of It, I’m joined by two people who were instrumental in making the book possible: Jackie Haley of Dream To Author and Stephen Goldblatt, founder of Partners In Crime.
Jackie brought a proven methodology and accountability to a process I had never experienced before. Her system, resources, and ability to keep me committed transformed an overwhelming goal—“write a book”—into a series of manageable steps. Stephen brought something entirely different: years of knowing me, a deep friendship, and an incredible understanding of the heart behind the story. They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but in this case, I hope you absolutely do. Stephen’s design captured the essence of My New Heart Says in a way that only someone who truly understood me and the journey could have. Together, Jackie and Stephen helped turn an idea into something tangible and something I’m incredibly proud to share.
This conversation is about much more than writing and designing a book. We talk about what Jackie and Stephen learned about me through the process, what I learned from each of them, and how creating this book opened all of our eyes to things we might not have discovered otherwise. We explore what it’s really like to write a book when you’ve never written one before...the doubt, the commitment, the surprises, and ultimately the incredible feeling of seeing your story come to life. It’s an uplifting and inspirational conversation, and if you’ve ever thought, “Maybe someday I should write a book,” I hope this episode gives you the push to stop thinking about it and start doing it.
